Would you expect anything different from the son of American cowboy legend Roy Rogers, whose signature song from his long-running radio and television show carried the same message?

Rogers Jr. soon will be ridin' into town with a passel of family members to serve as Grand Parade Marshal at the Middlefield Summer Fest on Saturday.

His connection with Geauga County dates back to the 1960s, when he visited the area to help friends with the opening of a grocery store.

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During his stay he met Linda Yoder, a former "Swiss Miss" queen representing the Middlefield Swiss Cheese Festival, and married her.

Linda also happens to be the sister-in-law of current Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich, who's married to her sister, Karen.

Rogers Jr., 67, lives in Branson, Mo., where he carries on the family tradition of delivering western music to audiences along with his group "The High Riders."

The congenial cowboy said he was fortunate to have grown up with a father who "taught us everything we know about being a decent person."

Much like his on-screen persona, the elder Rogers along with Dale Evans, his wife and Rogers Jr. mother, embodied upstanding morals and values and liberally shared them with their nine children.

"A cowboy hero and a strong Christian woman -- we had the best," Rogers Jr. said.

The example not only carried over to their large brood, of whom Rogers Jr. says "there's not a bad apple in the bunch," but to others who became fans of the popular personalities.

He added that his father never neglected the fact that he had a strong responsibility to the children who looked up to him, many as a father-figure.

For example, the best seats at his concerts were reserved for children from orphanages and others in unfortunate situations, rather than people of so-called prominence.

In hopes of perpetuating the legacy of his parents, Rogers Jr. said a "huge endeavor" on a national scale is about to be announced in the upcoming weeks, and that it's planned to be a "total reintroduction of people to Roy Rogers."

Meanwhile, he's looking forward to the Summer Fest, where his wife, children and grandchildren will take to the review route in a horse-driven wagon.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. and will wind up with Rogers Jr. singing the National Anthem.

Other events of the day include a 5K race, musical entertainment, the Middlefield Has Talent contest, barrel train rides by the Trumbull County Antique Tractor Club, a magic show, fireworks and more.

Middlefield Summer Fest is a combined event of The Taste of Middlefield, sponsored by the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce and Community Days.